Stacker of electronic component test handler, and electronic component test handler including same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure related to a stacker of an electric device test hander comprising an upper stacker and a lower stacker. Stacker modules provided in the upper stacker can be opened and closed by being moved horizontally from the frame, and each of stacker modules can give and receive a plurality of user trays to and from the lower stacker in closed position. 
     According to present disclosure when goods are being transferred to and from the outside, the user trays can move freely between the loading parts disposed on the upper and lower sides. Thus, the dependence on the visitation cycle of an external robot and the replacement amounts of the user trays can be lowered to improve ease of operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase of International Application No.PCT/KR2020/004735, filed Apr. 8, 2020, which claims priority to Koreanapplication No. KR 10-2019-0043943, filed on Apr. 15, 2019, thedisclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a stacker of an electronic device test handlerand an electronic device test handler including the same.

BACKGROUND ART

An electronic device test handler refers to an apparatus for testing aplurality of electronic devices, for example, semiconductor devices ormodules, and solid-state drives (SSD) after they are manufactured. Theelectronic device test handler is provided to connect the electronicdevices to a test apparatus, test whether the electronic devicesnormally operate under various artificial environments, and sort out theelectronic devices by distinguishing among passed components, componentsto be retested, defective components, etc. according to test results.

The electronic device test handler carries out material transport byexchanging a user tray, which is loaded with devices to be tested orwith tested devices, with the outside, and the material transport to theoutside should be performed in an appropriate cycle so as to continuetesting.

Regarding such a test handler, there has been disclosed Korean PatentNo. 1,734,397 (registered on May 2, 2017) applied by the presentapplicant.

However, such a conventional test handler has a problem that degrees offreedom of operation are small because a function is fixed by the usertray loaded into each stacker module.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a stacker of an electronicdevice test handler and an electronic device test handler including thesame, in which material transport of electronic devices is continuouslyand internally performed even when the material transport to the outsideis performed in the foregoing conventional electronic device testhandler.

Technical Solution

To achieve the aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a stacker ofan electronic device test handler, including: a frame; an upper stackerincluding a plurality of stacker modules moving horizontally from theframe and structured to be opened and closed; and a lower stackerprovided blow the upper stacker, and including a plurality of secondstacking portions to be loaded with a plurality of user trays, and thestacker module including first stacking portions to respectivelyexchange the plurality of user trays with the second stacking portionsarranged in a lower side at a closed position.

Meanwhile, the upper stacker may further include a transfer provided togrip and transfer the user tray in vertical and horizontal directions.

Further, the upper stacker may further include a plurality of set platesprovided to move up and down a settled user tray, and the transfer maybe activated to include a transfer path of the user trays in ahorizontal direction so that the user trays can be transferred betweenthe second stacking portion and the set plate and the user trays can betransferred between the plurality of second stacking portions.

Meanwhile, at least a part of the first stacking portion and the secondstacking portion may be provided to function as a loading stacker intowhich the user trays for supplying electronic devices needed to betested are loaded, and an unloading stacker in which the user trays forcollecting tested electronic devices.

Further, the first stacking portion and the second stacking portion mayinclude the loading stackers and the unloading stackers, the numbers ofwhich are determined based on a user's selection.

Further, a moving path of the transfer may be controlled to be changedbased on the user's selection of the loading stacker and the unloadingstacker.

Meanwhile, the first stacking portion may be provided to support theuser tray loaded into the second loading portion, and the stacker mayfurther include a holder provided to be opened when the user tray isexchanged between the first stacking portion and the second loadingportion.

Further, the holder may be placed below the first loading portion, andturned to selectively protrude on a moving path of the user tray.

Meanwhile, the lower stacker may further include a second stackingportion elevator provided to: move down to the second stacking portionwhile supporting the plurality of user trays loaded into the firstloading portion, or move up to the first stacking portion whilesupporting the plurality of user trays loaded into the second loadingportion.

Meanwhile, the second stacking portion elevator is activated to includesan operation of moving up so that a level of a top surface when moved upis higher than or equal to an installation position of the holderprovided in the first loading portion.

Meanwhile, the plurality of first stacking portions and the plurality ofsecond stacking portions may include sensors provided at lower sides tocheck whether their loaded user trays are used up.

Further, the first stacking portion and the second stacking portion mayinclude guides formed as vertically extended from a plurality of pointson a circumference of the user tray so as to support the stacked usertrays in a horizontal direction.

Meanwhile, the stacker module may include a slider provided to slide onthe frame, and the stacker may further include an actuator provided toopen and close the stacker module based on a user's input.

Meanwhile, the plurality of stacker modules may include loading stackersand unloading stackers, the numbers and positions of which aredetermined based on the user's selection.

In addition, there is provided an electronic device test handlerincluding the foregoing stacker.

Advantageous Effects

According to the disclosure, a stacker of an electronic device testhandler and an electronic device test handler including the same areincreased in loading capacity because a user tray can be loaded onto anupper stacker and a lower stacker.

Further, functions of stacking portions to be loaded with the user traysare not fixed but set for loading, unloading and emptiness as necessary,thereby increasing degrees of freedom of operation.

Further, when material transport to the outside is performed, the usertray is freely movable between the upper and lower stacking portions,and thus dependence on a visit cycle of an external robot and areplacement number of user trays is lowered, thereby improving ease ofoperation.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of an electronic device test handler, whichis divided into spaces corresponding to functions, according to thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of a test handler main body of FIG. 1 ,which is divided on a plane according to functions.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view of movement of a device and a test tray inthe test handler main body.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a stacker of the electronicdevice test handler according to the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view, in which some elements of FIG. 4are enlarged.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E and 6F are operational views of a user traytransferred between a first stacking portion and a second loadingportion.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual view of operation of the stacker during materialtransport between the first stacking portion and an outside.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual view of the material transport inside thestacker.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT DISCLOSURE

Below, a stacker of an electronic device test handler and an electronicdevice test handler including the same according to an embodiment of thedisclosure will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings. Elements described in the following embodimentsmay be called other names in relevant fields. However, if the elementsare similar or identical in terms of their functions, they may beregarded as equivalents even in alternative embodiments. Further, signsassigned to the elements are given for convenience of description.However, content on the drawings with these given signs do not limit theelements to a range in the drawings. Likewise, even though the elementson the drawings are partially modified according to alternativeembodiments, they having functional similarity and identity may beregarded as equivalents. Further, if those skilled in the art recognizesnatural involvement of elements, descriptions of the elements will beomitted.

The following description will be made on the premise that a devicerefers to an electrically functional element such as a semiconductordevice, a semiconductor module, a solid-state drive, etc. Further, thefollowing description will be made on the premise that a user trayrefers to a tray including a plurality of loading grooves regularlyarranged to be loaded with semiconductor devices, and the loading groovedoes not have any separate holding function so that the device can beheld in the groove by its own weight.

Below, an overall structure of the test handler according to thedisclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of an electronic device test handler, whichis divided into spaces corresponding to functions, according to thedisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a test handler 1 according to the disclosure isstructured to bring a device 20 from the outside, perform a test, andselectively take the device 20 out according to grades.

According to functions, the test handler 1 may be spatially divided intoa region, i.e., a stacker for bringing a plurality of user trays 10 fromthe outside or taking the user trays 10 to the outside, and a region,i.e., a test handler main body 100 for transferring the device 20 fromthe user tray 10, performing the test, sorting out the device 20according to the grades, and loading the device 20 into the user tray10.

The stacker 2 refers to a region to be loaded with the user tray 10 inquantity. The stacker may include a loading stacker, an unloadingstacker and an empty stacker according to the loaded device 20.

The loading stacker is provided to load therein the user tray 10 loadedwith the devices 20 needed to be tested and sorted out. The loadingstacker is provided to have a size for loading therein the plurality ofuser trays 10 brought from the outside and loaded in units of ‘1 lot’.The unloading stacker is provided to load therein a plurality of usertrays 10, which are loaded with the devices 20 to be taken out among thetested and sorted devices 20, in units of ‘1 lot’ before taking thedevices 20 out. The empty stacker is structured to load there in aplurality of empty user trays 10, and provided to receive the empty usertrays 10 after the transfer of the devices 20 from the loading stackeris completed, or transfer the empty user tray 10 to the unloadingstacker.

Meanwhile, the loading stacker, the unloading stacker, and the emptystacker may be classified according to material transport to theoutside, material transport inside the test handler 1, and loadingpurposes, but their own structures may be the same or similar.

Each stacker module 400 may be provided to vertically stack and load theplurality of user trays 10 for efficient use of a space. Further, eachstacker module 400 is provided to horizontally move in the direction of‘Y’ in FIG. 1 and opened and closed, and allows the material transportto the outside to be carried out at a position of being taken out. Forexample, the plurality of user trays 10 may be transferred from anautomatic guided vehicle (AGV) to the loading stacker, or the AGV maycollect the plurality of user trays 10 from the unloading stacker.

Further, the stacker 2 may be provided to include the loading stacker,the unloading stacker, and the empty stacker, each of which is set inplural, so that internal material transport can be continuouslyperformed even while one of the loading stacker, the unloading stackerand the empty stacker is performing the material transport to theoutside.

Below, the structures and operations of the test handler main body 100will be schematically described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of the test handler main body 100 of FIG. 1, which is divided on a plane according to functions, and FIG. 3 is aconceptual view of movement of the device 20 and the test tray 130 inthe test handler main body 100.

In the test handler main body 100, the plurality of devices 20 aresubjected to a test, and the devices 20 are sorted after the test, thedevice 20 may be transferred and loaded before and after the test. Thetest handler main body 100 may be functionally divided into a loadingsite L, a test site T, and an unloading site UL.

The loading site L is provided to pick up the plurality of devices 20from the user tray 10 and place the devices 20 in a test tray 130. Theloading site L may include a hand 110 and a loading shuttle 120 totransfer the device 20 from the user tray 10 to the test tray 130, and ascanner (not shown) to perform the test.

At a pick-up position, the user trays 10 loaded into the loading stackermay be alternately supplied one by one, and the hand 110 (to bedescribed later) picks out and transfers only the plurality of devices20 from the user tray 10. After all the loaded devices 20 aretransferred, the empty user tray 10 is replaced by the user tray 10loaded with the devices 20 to thereby continuously supply the device 20.Meanwhile, at the pick-up position, the plurality of user trays 10 maybe exposed to continuously supply the devices 20 even when the usertrays 10 loaded into one stacker module 400 are used up or go wrong. Inthis case, while the devices 20 are being transferred from one user tray10, another user tray 10 may be on standby or replaced by a new usertray 10.

The hand 110 is provided to pick up and transfer the plurality ofdevices 20 and then load the plurality of devices 20 into the test tray130 or the loading shuttle 120. The hand 110 may be provided in pluraland be in charge of the material transport in every transfer section.The hand 110 may be installed on an upper rail so as to move in ahorizontal direction, and may include an attachment which faces downwardand a linear actuator (not shown) by which length adjustment is possiblein a vertical direction. The attachment may for example include aplurality of vacuum ports to vacuum-adsorb the plurality of devices 20.Further, the attachment may be replaceable according to the kinds, sizesand shapes of the device 20.

Meanwhile, the test tray 130 includes an insert in every loading groovein consideration of thermal deformation or the like of the device 20while the device 20 is held and subjected to the test, and a spacebetween the loading grooves of the test tray 130 may be different fromthat of the user tray 10. In general, the space between the loadinggrooves of the test tray 130 is greater than that of the user tray 10.Therefore, the plurality of devices 20 are picked up from the user tray10 at the pick-up position by the hand 110, and then loaded into thetest tray 130 while widening the space between the devices 20.Specifically, to widen the space in two directions of X and Y, spaceadjustment may be performed twice. To this end, the loading shuttle 120is provided between the pick-up position and the test tray 130, thespace is adjusted in one direction during transfer from the user tray 10to the loading shuttle 120, and the space is adjusted in the otherdirection during transfer from the loading shuttle 120 to the test tray130.

The loading shuttle 120 is provided between the user tray 10 and thetest tray 130, and the loading grooves are arranged with a more widenedspace therebetween in one direction than that of the user tray 10 sothat the plurality of devices 20 can be loaded as primarily arranged.Further, the loading shuttle 120 may be position-controlled inconsideration of the positions of the user tray 10, the test tray 130and the hand 110 for the efficiency of the material transport.

The scanner (not shown) is provided to identify a barcode when thedevice 20 to be transferred has the barcode. The scanner (not shown) maybe provided to scan the barcode on a path where the hand 110 picks upand transfers the device 20. The scanner may be provided at variouspositions so as to easily scan the barcode according to the shapes,sizes and kinds of the device 20.

At a placing position, the empty test tray 130 is supplied and thedevice 20 is transferred and loaded. When the devices 20 are completelyloaded at the placing position, the test tray 130 is then transferred tothe test site T, so as to receive a new empty test tray 130.

Meanwhile, although it is not shown, a mask and a preciser may beprovided at the placing position to prevent the devices 20 fromseparation after the devices are settled on the test tray 130. Asdescribed above, the test tray 130 includes the inserts in therespective loading grooves, and each insert includes a locking portionto prevent the device 20 from separation. A default position of eachlocking portion is set as a position for preventing the device 20 fromseparation.

The loading of the device 20 into the test tray 130 is achieved byexpanding the locking portion of the insert to the mask in the statethat the insert is pressed by the preciser, and transferring the device20 to the loading groove by the hand 110.

The mask is shaped corresponding to the test tray 130, and includes aplurality of projections 421 to respectively expand the locking portionsof the inserts when being in close contact with the test tray 130.

The preciser is as described above provided to temporarily hold theinserts provided in the test tray 130 and having a little gap. Thepreciser includes a plurality of pressure pins respectivelycorresponding to the positions of the inserts, and temporarily holds thetest tray 130 as the preciser is in close contact with the test tray 130and presses the inserts. Therefore, it is possible to minimize aposition error when the device 20 is settled on the insert.

However, although it is not shown, an elevator for moving the mask andthe preciser up and down independently of each other may be additionallyprovided.

The test site T is provided to make the plurality of devices 20 loadedinto the test tray 130 be tested in units of the test tray 130, andtransmit a test result. In a test chamber 160, a thermal load test mayfor example be performed to test the functions of the devices 20 withina temperature of −40° C. to 130° C.

The test site T may include the test chamber 160 and buffer chambers 150provided before and after the test chamber 160. The buffer chamber 150is provided to be loaded with the plurality of test trays 130, andprovided so that pre-heating or post-heating treatment can be performedbefore and after performing the thermal load test.

In the test site T, the test tray 130 can be transferred and tested asbeing kept upright, thereby reducing the overall size of the testhandler. Although it is not illustrated in detail, a position switchingunit 140 may be provided before and after the buffer chamber 150 andswitch the position of the test tray 130 over to an upright position.

The unloading site UL is provided to sort out, transfer and load thedevices 20 of the test tray 130 transferred from the test site Taccording to the test results. The unloading site UL may includeelements similar to those of the loading site L, and transfer the device20 in reverse order from that of the loading site L. However, theunloading site UL may include a plurality of sorting shuttles 170 totemporarily collect the devices 20 according to the grades from the testtray 130. To improve the efficiency of the material transport, when apredetermined number of devices 20 having the same grade are loaded intothe sorting shuttle 170, a plurality of devices 20 may be picked up andtransferred to the user tray 10 at the same time.

Meanwhile, although it is not shown, the empty test tray 130, of whichthe transfer of the devices 20 is finished in the unloading site UL, maybe circulated as transferred toward the loading site L.

Further, although it is not shown, a controller may be additionallyprovided to control the activation of the foregoing elements.

Below, the stacker according to the disclosure will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8 .

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a stacker of the electronicdevice test handler 1 according to the disclosure, and FIG. 5 is anenlarged perspective view, in which some elements of FIG. 4 areenlarged.

As shown therein, the stacker according to the disclosure may beprovided to continuously supply or collect the devices 20 under a base101 of the test handler main body 100. The stacker may include an upperstacker 300 and a lower stacker 500.

The upper stacker 300 is provided to be loaded with the plurality ofuser trays 10 received from the outside, and provided to allow the usertray 10 to be transferred therein by a transfer 310. The upper stacker300 is provided to supply the user tray 10 toward the base 101 of themain body 100 through an upper side, or exchange the user tray 10 withthe lower stacker 500 through a lower side. The upper stacker 300 mayinclude the transfer 310, a set plate 320 and the stacker module 400.

The transfer 310 is configured to grip and transfer the user tray 10inside the upper stacker 300. The transfer 310 is provided in plural,which may include one or more transfers 310 involved in loading and oneor more transfers 310 involved in unloading. The transfer 310 mayinclude a plurality of actuators (not shown) for horizontal movement andvertical movement. The transfer 310 may be controlled to transfer theuser tray 10 between one of first stacking portions 410 and one of setplates 320. Further, the transfer 310 may be controlled to perform thematerial transport of the user tray 10 between the first stackingportions 410. The transfer 310 may be controlled to withdraw the usertrays 10 one by one from the upper side of the first stacking portion410, or, reversely, stack and load the user trays 10 one by one into thelower side.

The set plate 320 is provided to expose the received user tray 10 to thetest handler main body 100. The set plate 320 is provided to move up anddown with the loaded user trays 10. When moving up, the set plate 320 ismoved to a position where the hand 110 of the test handler main body 100can pick up the device 20. When moving down, the set plate 320 is movedto a position where the transfer 310 can replace the user tray 10. Theset plate 320 may be provided in plural between the loading site L andthe unloading site UL.

The stacker module 400 is provided in plural, and the stacker modules400 are opened and closed independently of each other to exchange theuser tray 10 with the outside. The plurality of stacker modules 400 maybe provided 1:1 corresponding to the number of second stacking portions510 in the lower stacker 500 (to be described later). The stacker module400 may be provided to be opened moving in the horizontal direction,i.e., in the direction of Y in FIG. 4 . The stacker module 400 mayinclude a frame 200, the first stacking portion 410, a holder 420, aslider 430, a linear actuator 450, a guide 610, a sensor 620 and a door440.

The frame 200 may be structured to form an overall framework.

The first stacking portion 410 refers to a space where the plurality ofuser trays 10 are stacked and loaded. The first stacking portion 410 maybe loaded with the user trays 10 as much as ‘1 lot’ by which the usertrays 10 are exchanged with an external means for transferring the usertray 10, for example, a robot. However, the number of user trays 10corresponding to ‘1 lot’ may be variously varied depending on the kindsof the device 20, and thus detailed descriptions about an exemplaryexample thereof will be omitted. The space of the first stacking portion410 may be formed corresponding to the shape and size of the user tray10.

The holder 420 may be provided to selectively pass or support the usertray 10 between the first stacking portion 410 and the second stackingportion 510 (to be described later). The holder 420 may be provided as apair in each first stacking portion 410, and each holder 420 may includethe projection 421. The projection 421 may be asymmetrically providedalong a turning direction so that obstruction can be selectivelygenerated on a transfer path of the user tray 10 when the holder 420turns. The projection 421 may be provided to substantially support thebottom of the user tray 10. At the lower side of the first stackingportion 410, the frame 200 has a hole through which the user tray 10 cango in and out, so that when the user tray 10 can pass through the holewhen the holder 420 is opened. The holder 420 may include the projection421 protruding on the transfer path of the user tray 10 between thesecond stacking portion 510 and the first stacking portion 410 when theholder 420 is closed. When the holder 420 is opened, the projection 421is turned not to obstruct the transfer path of the user tray 10.

The slider 430 may be provided at the lower side of the stacker module400 so that the stacker module 400 can slide and move relative to theframe 200. The slider 430 may be provided in plural to stably supportthe stacker module 400 from below, and restrict the stacker module 400to move to a given reciprocating position.

The linear actuator 450 is provided to move the stacker module 400 inthe horizontal direction. The linear actuator 450 includes a first sideconnected to the frame 200 and a second side connected to a first sideof the stacker module 400 and is provided to open and close the stackermodule 400 in response to an input. This embodiment shows the linearactuator 450 by way of example, but various alternative elements may beapplied for the reciprocation of the stacker module 400.

The guide 610 is provided to prevent the user tray 10 from beingseparated from the first stacking portion 410 in the state that theplurality of user trays 10 are stacked. The guide 610 is formed asvertically extended from a plurality of points along the circumferenceof the first stacking portion 410. For example, two adjacent guides 610may be provided in the edges of the user tray 10, and a total of eightguides 610 may be provided. The length of the guide 610 is extended longenough to prevent the user tray 10 from being separated in a lateraldirection while exchanging the user tray 10 with the second stackingportion 510. In other words, a distance between the top end portion ofthe guide 610 of the second stacking portion 510 and the upper firststacking portion 410 may be shorter than the thickness of the user tray10.

The sensor 620 may be provided to identify the presence and the loadingcompletion of the user tray 10 in the first stacking portion 410. Thesensor 620 may be provided to identify the presence of the user trays 10positioned at the uppermost and lowermost sides when the user trays 10are loaded into the first stacking portion 410. When the uppermostsensor senses the presence of the user tray 10, it is identified thatthe user tray 10 is completely loaded into the first stacking portion410, and a corresponding subsequent operation is controlled. On theother hand, when the lowermost sensor senses the absence of the usertray 10, it is identified that the first stacking portion 410 is empty,and a corresponding subsequent operation is controlled. Meanwhile, whenthe user trays 10 from the outside are loaded in units of ‘1 lot’ andthe lowermost sensor detects the user tray 10, it is identified that thefirst stacking portion 410 is full of the user tray 10. On the otherhand, when the user tray 10 is not detected, it is identified that thefirst stacking portion 410 is used up and empty. Meanwhile, theforegoing sensor 620 may employ variously sensors, such as a lasersensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, etc. as long as it canidentify the presence of the user trays 10 at spaced points.

The door 440 is provided to shield the stacker module 400 from theoutside when the stacker module 400 moves to and completely inserted inthe stacker.

The lower stacker 500 is provided below the upper stacker 300. The lowerstacker 500 may be an additional loading space for the user trays 10usable in the upper stacker 500. The lower stacker 500 may include thesecond stacking portion 510, a second stacking portion elevator 520, theguide 610, and the sensor 620.

Like the first stacking portion 410, the second stacking portion 510 mayalso be defined as a space into which the user tray 10 is loadable. Thesecond stacking portion 510 is provided to exchange the user tray 10with the first stacking portion 410 through the upper side. The numberof second stacking portions 510 is the same as the number of stackermodules 400, and thus the second stacking portions 510 are arranged sideby side below the stacker module 400. The first stacking portions 410and the second stacking portions 510 may be in 1:1 correspondence witheach other.

The second stacking portion elevator 520 is provided to move theplurality of user trays 10 up and down in the vertical direction. Thesecond stacking portion elevator 520 may include a supporting plate 521,a supporter 522, and an elevation actuator 523. The supporting plate 521is provided to support the user tray 10 loaded into the second stackingportion 510 on the top surface thereof. The supporting plate 521 may beprovided to have a size not to be obstructed by the projections 421 whenmoving between the second stacking portion 510 and the first stackingportion 410 even though the projections 421 of the holder 420 areclosed. The supporter 522 is provided at a frame side, and connected tothe supporting plate 521. The elevation actuator 523 is connected to thesupporter 522 and moves the supporter 522 up and down. The elevationactuator 523 may be provided to adjust the level of the supporting plate521 from the lower side of the second stacking portion 510 to the lowerside of the first stacking portion 410.

Meanwhile, the guide 610 and the sensor 620 may be provided in thesecond stacking portion 510 like those of the foregoing first stackingportion 410. However, the guide 610 may be provided to have a lengthsimilar to the loading height of ‘1 lot’.

Below, operations of the stacker according to the disclosure will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 6A to 8 .

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E and 6F are operational views of the user tray10 transferred between the first stacking portion 410 and the secondstacking portion 510. As shown therein, when the user tray 10 istransferred from the second stacking portion 510 to the first stackingportion 410, the user trays 10 stacked in the second stacking portion510 are supported and moved upward.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the operations of the second stacking portionelevator 520 and the holder 420 are as follows. The stacker module 400is opened. Then, the user trays 10 of ‘1 lot’ from the outside areloaded into the first stacking portion 410, and the stacker module 400is inserted at an original position. Then, referring to FIG. 6B, whenthere is a need of transferring the user tray 10 to the second stackingportion 510, the second stacking portion elevator 520 is moved up tosupport the bottom of the stacked user trays 10. In this case, thesupporting plate 521 of the second stacking portion elevator 520 may besmaller than the user tray 10, and thus support the bottom of the usertrays 10 while avoiding obstruction of the holder 420 even though theholder 420 is closed. Further, the elevated level of the second stackingportion elevator 520 may be determined so that the bottom level of thelowermost user tray 10 of the first stacking portion 410 can be higherthan the supporting level of the holder 420. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C,when the user tray 10 is supported by the second stacking portionelevator 520 in the first stacking portion 410, the holder 420 isopened. Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, the user tray 10 is then supported bythe second stacking portion elevator 520, and therefore the user tray 10is also moved down toward the second stacking portion 510 when thesecond stacking portion elevator 520 is moved down. Then, as shown inFIG. 6E, the holder 420 is closed again when the user tray 10 iscompletely moved to the second stacking portion 520. Next, as shown inFIG. 6F, the stacker module 400 is opened to load the user trays 10again.

Meanwhile, although it is not shown, when the user tray 10, of which thetest is finished, is taken out at the unloading side, the control isperformed in reverse order from the foregoing order, therebytransferring the plurality of user trays 10 from the second stackingportion 510 to the first stacking portion 410.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual view of operation of the stacker during materialtransport between the first stacking portion and an outside. When thefirst stacking portion 410 is empty as shown in FIG. 6E, it is possibleto receive the user trays 10 from the outside. In this case, the stackermodule 400 can transfer the user tray 10 to the second stacking portion510. Therefore, when an external robot passes an adjacent position, thefirst stacking portion 410 may be emptied out and then additionallyloaded with the user trays 10. Meanwhile, when a cycle of supplying theuser trays 10 from the outside becomes longer, the first stackingportion 410 and the second stacking portion 510 for the supply arearranged in two or more rows. Therefore, when the user trays 10 are usedup in one row, the user trays 10 loaded in another row are supplied. Inthis case, the user trays 10 may be loaded into the plurality of stackermodules 400 at the same time when the user trays 10 are supplied fromthe outside.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual view of the material transport inside thestacker. As shown therein, the stacker 1 according to the disclosureincludes the first stacking portion 410 and the second stacking portion510 which are arranged in a row, and may include the stacking portionsin a plurality of rows. In each row, the second stacking portion 510 andthe first stacking portion 410 are provided to exchange the user trays10 with each other ({circle around (1)}). Further, it is possible totransfer the user tray 10 from the first stacking portion 410 to the setplate 320 ({circle around (2)}), and reversely to transfer the user tray10 from the set plate 320 to the first stacking portion 410 ({circlearound (3)}). Further, as necessary, the user tray 10 may be transferredwithin the first stacking portion 410 ({circle around (4)}).

Meanwhile, the stacking portions provided in the stacker module 400 andthe lower stacker 500 may be set to freely perform functions of loading,unloading and emptiness in response to a user's input. Further, thefunctions of the loading, unloading and emptiness are all expandable upto the lower second stacking portion 510, thereby increasing the degreesof freedom of operation and securing a high loading capacity.

As described above, in a stacker of an electronic device test handleraccording to the disclosure and an electronic device test handlerincluding the same, functions of stacking portions to be loaded withuser trays are not fixed when designed, but set as necessary to therebyhave an effect on increasing degrees of freedom of operation.

Further, when material transport to the outside is performed in units of‘1 lot’, the user tray is freely movable between the upper firststacking portion 410 and the lower second stacking portion 510, and thusdependence on a visit cycle of an external robot and a replacementcapacity of user trays is lowered, thereby increasing degrees of freedomof operation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A stacker of an electronic device testhandler, comprising: a frame; an upper stacker comprising a plurality ofstacker modules moving horizontally from the frame and structured to beopened and closed; and a lower stacker provided below the upper stacker,and comprising a plurality of second stacking portions to be loaded witha plurality of user trays, wherein a stacker module comprises aplurality of first stacking portions to respectively exchange theplurality of user trays with the second stacking portions arranged in alower side at a closed position, wherein the upper stacker furthercomprises a transfer provided to grip and transfer a user tray invertical and horizontal directions, wherein the upper stacker furthercomprises a plurality of set plates provided to move up and down asettled user tray, and wherein the transfer is activated to comprise atransfer path of the plurality of user trays in the horizontal directionso that the user trays can be transferred between the plurality of firststacking portions and the plurality of set plates and the plurality ofuser trays can be transferred between the plurality of first stackingportions.
 2. The stacker of the electronic device test handler accordingto claim 1, wherein at least a part of a first stacking portion and asecond stacking portion is provided to function as a loading stackerinto which the user trays for supplying electronic devices needed to betested are loaded, and an unloading stacker in which the user trays forcollecting tested electronic devices.
 3. The stacker of the electronicdevice test handler according to claim 2, wherein the first stackingportion and the second stacking portion comprise one or more loadingstackers and one or more unloading stackers, the numbers of which aredetermined based on a user's selection.
 4. The stacker of the electronicdevice test handler according to claim 3, wherein a moving path of thetransfer is controlled to be changed based on the user's selection ofthe loading stacker and the unloading stacker.
 5. The stacker of theelectronic device test handler according to claim 1, wherein the firststacking portion further comprises a holder which is provided to supportthe user tray loaded into a first loading portion, and to be opened whenthe user tray is exchanged between the first stacking portion and asecond loading portion.
 6. The stacker of the electronic device testhandler according to claim 5, wherein the holder is placed below thefirst loading portion, and turned to selectively protrude on a movingpath of the user tray.
 7. The stacker of the electronic device testhandler according to claim 5, wherein the lower stacker furthercomprises a second stacking portion elevator provided to: move down tothe second stacking portion while supporting the plurality of user traysloaded into the first loading portion, or move up to the first stackingportion while supporting the plurality of user trays loaded into thesecond loading portion.
 8. The stacker of the electronic device testhandler according to claim 7, wherein the second stacking portionelevator is activated to comprise an operation of moving up so that alevel of a top surface when moved up is higher than or equal to aninstallation position of the holder provided in the first loadingportion.
 9. The stacker of the electronic device test handler accordingto claim 7, wherein the plurality of first stacking portions and theplurality of second stacking portions comprise sensors provided at lowersides to check whether their loaded user trays are used up.
 10. Thestacker of the electronic device test handler according to claim 7,wherein the first stacking portion and the second stacking portioncomprise guides formed as vertically extended from a plurality of pointson a circumference of the user tray so as to support the stacked usertrays in the horizontal direction.
 11. The stacker of the electronicdevice test handler according to claim 1, wherein the stacker modulefurther comprises a slider provided to slide on the frame, and thestacker further comprises an actuator provided to open and close thestacker module based on a user's input.
 12. The stacker of theelectronic device test handler according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of stacker modules comprises loading stackers and unloadingstackers, the numbers and positions of which are determined based on auser's selection.
 13. An electronic device test handler comprising: aframe; an upper stacker comprising a plurality of stacker modulesprovided to be opened and closed as horizontally moved from the frame;and a lower stacker provided blow the upper stacker, and comprising aplurality of second stacking portions to be loaded with a plurality ofuser trays, wherein a stacker module comprises a plurality of firststacking portions to respectively exchange the plurality of user trayswith the plurality of second stacking portions arranged in a lower sideat a closed position, wherein the upper stacker further comprises atransfer provided to grip and transfer a user tray in vertical andhorizontal directions, wherein the upper stacker further comprises aplurality of set plates provided to move up and down a settled usertray, and wherein the transfer is activated to comprise a transfer pathof the plurality of user trays in the horizontal direction so that theuser trays can be transferred between the plurality of first stackingportions and the plurality of set plates and the plurality of user trayscan be transferred between the plurality of first stacking portions.